EMT to be renamed in effort to raise respect for career path

Emergency Medical Technicians will likely be getting renamed to a new job title. The reason for the change, EMT has become synonymous with low skill work. The reality is that EMTs are highly skilled and important part of public safety. So starting January 1, 2015 EMTs will become Pre-hospital Care Professionals, PCP.

Vince Furnier executive director of the National Registers of Emergency Medical Workers, NREMW, is excited for this new name change.

“The word ‘technicians’ in EMT has always bugged me. Look up the definition it reads ‘a person trained in mechanical or industrial labor techniques’. To me that sounds like unskilled labor, like the rookie mechanic doing oil changes at the quick lube joint. But we all know EMTs are not unskilled labor doing menial tasks.”

Current EMT Bruce Kulick agrees with Director Furnier’s logic.

“I am so sick of being called ‘Ambulance Driver’. I do a hell of a lot more than drive from point to point with people in the back. It does seem to all boil back down to that term technician in our title. You put the word ‘Professional’ in our title and then people will know we are skilled experts.”

Originally NREMW wanted the new title to take effect as soon as May1, 2014. But EMS providers complained about cost of new patches, nametags, and decals on ambulances. EMS services are able to start using the new title anytime they wish, but national level awareness campaign will till closer to New Years.